It is not uncommon to frequently see on TV and Movie and sometimes reported in the press, how even a life saving treatment or surgery is withheld by a Doctor/ in a Hospital unless a certain deposit of money is paid as advance. The consequent delay can lead to serious complications and sometimes even fatality. Obviously the Doctor and the Hospital are at fault in even not starting life saving and emergency measures to the sick and sometimes a dying patient. Most “good” doctors and “good” Hospitals may not be guilty of this blatantly harsh and inhuman treatment. But why is it that some are so unkind, and heartless?

The medical professional is gifted with the knowledge and a skill to serve the suffering and needy public and money received is in fact a bonus. A doctor is doubly privileged; first getting an opportunity to serve mankind and secondly get paid for it too. Medical profession is not a business like a shop keeper who sells some merchandise, or a businessman who manufactures and sells some items or products. But then, a doctor will not be in a position to offer his services absolutely free unless he has other means to take care of his and family’s needs and unless he himself is keen to give free service. The fees/monies paid by his patients should take care of all his other needs for a comfortable if not luxurious living. The patients treated by him should pay him sufficiently handsomely to allow the doctor to live comfortably and well. However this kind of healthy and ideal doctor patient relationship probably existed once upon a time but not in the present materialistic and highly commercial society. Hence a doctor or a specialist may somewhat fix his “fees” for his services; the consultations, any procedures and surgeries performed etc. And the patient should willingly give the reasonable fees and not try to deny the doctor his dues. Unfortunately there are bad and greedy doctors and bad and cunning patients too. The former try to rip off patients and the latter, even among the well off, try to cheat and get complementary or inexpensive services. There are also instances where, in the event of death of a seriously ill patient, the relatives and friends blame the doctors, attack them and the Hospital out of unreasonable rage and sometimes to get some monetary gains as “compensation” for themselves.

Best wishes,